Help with string selection

Lester

Hello, thanks for adding me to DjangoBooks.

I have a Gitane and would like to find strings that would give me that soft, almost nylon
string tone I hear on many gypsy tunes. Any advice?

anthon_74

I've heard Gali Silk and Steel strings are softer in tone.

t-bird

As @anthon_74 said - the Galli silk and steel have a softer feel and tone. I put the GSL11's on a Cigano and there was a big difference in tone and feel vs Argentines.

Jazzaferri

The Lenzer Fisoma S & S would also be worth trying.

jonpowl

I'm using Galli Silk & Steel 10s on my Cigano with good results. It isn't the best sounding guitar, but is certainly passable with the Gallis. Galli Silk & Steels had a softer feel on my old guitar, a Gitane DG-255, but didn't cure the overtone problem.

Jazzaferri

On my guitars, I found the Lenzers to be a little fatter sounding without getting overly bright. Probably best to try the Galli's first and if you aren't happy with that try the Lenzer's next. Michael has both in the store.

Buco

Keep in mind that what you heard may in fact have been nylon string guitars. It's not entirely unusual for people to use them in this genre.

Lester

This is the sound and feel I'm looking for......
youtube.com/watch?v=UT78vLuOCto

Bob Holo

This might not be the answer you wanted to hear, but the truth of it is that the sound and feel in that video is primarily coming from Dennis' incredibly experienced hands - and he's also on a fairly remarkable guitar. It's a one of a kind Busato-braced SeImer from around 1940. Michael has a very good guitar with similar top-bracing, but the price is not for the faint of heart. That being said, it's a great guitar and IMHO, worth every penny. http://www.djangobooks.com/Item/busato-oval-hole-grand-modele-5

I think Dennis was just using Argentine 11's. That's what it had when I saw it about a month or two after that video. However, the suggestions above to try the Galli GSL or Lenzer Fisoma will definitely give you a softer feel and tone. A rounder pick, like a 2.2mm BigCity http://www.djangobooks.com/Item/big_city_2_2 or a Dunlop 2mm Gator pick held backward so you're hitting with one of the blunt corners -- will also take your sound in that direction.

t-bird

Lester wrote: »

This is the sound and feel I'm looking for......
youtube.com/watch?v=UT78vLuOCto

When I use the word "feel" in regard to strings I am referring to the physical sensation in my fingers.

I don't think the video of Dennis playing along with Django is a great reference for tone. In addition to Bob's comments above, keep in mind he is playing note for note along with the recording which, to my ears, adds a chorus effect.

The Galli GSL strings are some of the least expensive Michael has - give them a try!

Buco

I've struggled for a while to get a warmer tone from my guitar. It sounds like that's what you might be after. I've achieved that with a combination of strings (lenzner fisoma silk and steel) the round tip pick (blue chip sr60) and a different bridge (I ordered a couple of cheep Chinese from eBay and found one that sounded mellower after fitting it to the top).

Interestingly the luthier ended up replacing a fingerboard, for different reasons, (from ebony to rosewood) and since then the guitar is much less bright to the point of that now I'm back to silvered strings and I found silk and steel to be too mellow.

A friend of mine had John J black tuxedo model and I remembered it as a very, very bright guitar. Very loud also but boy was it shrill.

Then there's a player as Bob said which is big part of overall sound.